May 20, 2008

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech volleyball signee Amanda Dowdy is one of a select few that was recently named to the U.S. Women's Junior National Training Team. She is one of just 19 chosen to compete for 12 spots on the U.S. Women's Junior National Team that will represent USA volleyball at the NORCECA Continental Championship held July 22-27 at Saltillo, Mexico.

An all-around athlete and native of Lexington, Texas, Dowdy (Lexington H.S.) is a 6-foot-3 middle blocker that was a two-time district MVP and all-state performer that was a top-three finalist for the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year award this past year. She ranked among the top players in the country in kills per game at 6.9 while leading all of Central Texas in kills and total blocks this past season. She played club volleyball for TexStar and was also a standout basketball player at Lexington. She chose the Red Raiders over Oklahoma, Baylor and Kansas basketball when she signed her national letter of intent in November.

The Junior National Team is coached by Paula Weishoff-Hanold, a two-time Olympic medalist and former long-time member of the U.S. Women's National Team that is currently the head coach of Concordia University in Irvine, Calif. She is assisted by UCLA assistant head coach Kim Jagd and Texas A&M associate head coach John Corbelli.

The training team is set to train July 8-19 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

For the complete U.S. Women's Junior National Training Team roster and more information on USA volleyball, visit www.usavolleyball.org.